Calgary’s real estate market in December caps off 2019 with more signs of stability

City of Calgary, January 2, 2020 – December sales improved to levels more consistent with activity recorded over the past five years. This follows weak sales activity last year.

A stronger second half in 2019 was enough to push annual sales up by one per cent.

“Price declines, lower mortgage rates and some modest improvements in full-time employment helped support some demand growth in the city. Reductions in supply are also contributing to the slow adjustment to more stable conditions in the housing market,” said CREB^® chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie.

“As oversupply in the market continues to ease, we should start to see more stabilization in prices. However, conditions continue to favour the buyer and this is weighing on prices.”

December unadjusted benchmark prices were $418,500. This is just slightly lower than last month and one per cent below last year’s levels.

Overall prices in 2019 declined by three per cent over last year’s levels. The total adjustment in prices is a 10 per cent decline since the 2014 slowdown in the energy sector.

While there are signs of stabilization, conditions vary significantly by location, price range and product type.

Improvements in the resale market have been mostly driven by lower priced product or areas where price declines were enough to bring more purchasers back into the market.